Dr. Dirk Karasiak
Managing Director Aquafil Engineering
AQUAFIL Engineering’s plants make the difference in quality and reliability of its products
The core business of Germany-based AQUAFIL Engineering GmbH is the supply of polyamide and polyester polymer plants with own know how, technology and equipment design. AQUAFIL Engineering delivers high quality engineering and equipment based on long experience and innovation. It is part of the AQUAFIL Group, one of the largest producers of polyamide polymers, filaments, BCF and engineering plastics in Europe. In an interview with Fibre2Fashion, AQUAFIL Engineering’s Managing Director Dr. Dirk Karasiak discusses engineering services for the textile industry.
What are the major products and services provided by AQUAFIL Engineering?
AQUAFIL Engineering GmbH is a German engineering company for industrial plants. We are one of the leading companies for the technology of PET and PA 6 virgin production and recycling plants. We deliver these plants as turn-key solutions or as packages with high quality engineering and equipment. In the global market we are well-known for medium-size polymer plants and high flexibility. With our first-class quality of products, our customers are able to achieve advantages in several aspects compared to others.
Which are your major markets for engineering services and products?
We are working globally, so there is no major market, but of course you can see trends in different regions.
Which new geographies do you plan to explore?
We are not present so far in some Asian regions, Africa and South America. In the next few years, we see a lot of potential in those regions for our customers and us.
What kind of engineering services, especially relevant to the textile industry, are in demand?
We are building either complete new polymer plants for the textile industry, or are making revamping of existing plants. Very often, we are also asked for special additives or niche market polymers. In the last few years, the demand of recycling of waste is constantly increased.
Do you see sustainability and environmental compliance a major factor for textile business now when it comes to adding a new production facility or plant?
First of all, AQUAFIL Engineering’s plants make the difference in quality and reliability of its products which is still an important factor for the customers. But today, we see these factors on the same level of importance with the aspects of sustainability and environment. Personally, I think that this is a very good development, not only because we can offer sustainable solutions, but also because there is a change in thinking about how, what and how much we are consuming, which is helping our planet hopefully to survive.
What new innovations and technologies are you working towards, especially with textile applications?
We have new innovations in the pipeline, which we will launch in 2023, so it is too early to advertise them. But in the last few years our company has created, patented and supplied several new technologies like LBT (low building technology), DFC (direct film casting) and EverPET (chemical recycling). With these technologies we are helping customers decrease their building investments, conversions costs and carbon footprint.
In general, there is unfortunately not enough recycling in the textile industry so far. It should get more common for people to bring back their old clothes to the stores, so that they can be collected and recycled, and that these raw materials of old clothes are not going to landfill or incineration. To make a real closed loop all people and companies have to help and get involved. The AQUAFIL Group is showing how it could work with its product Econyl, where we generated out of old carpets and post-consumer waste a 100 per cent regenerated nylon with same properties like the virgin material.
What are the major challenges that you face when it comes to setting up plants and training?
Each country or project has different challenges. What is important is that we are solving these challenges together with our customers. At the moment, the biggest problems are the longer and higher transportation time and cost, along with increased raw material and energy costs.
Published on: 07/10/2022
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
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